James t



(No Mde.)

J. T. BRIDGES.

y PORK, BAKE, am. N0. 366,371 Patented July 12, 1887.

INVENTOR N. PETERS. Phew-Lithograph, washingwn, D4 C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES T. BRIDGES, OF HANCOCK, MARYLAND.

FORK, RAKE, sbo.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 366,371, dated July 12,1887.

Application filed May 7. 1887. Serial No. 937,392. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, .Lines T. BRIDGES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hancock, in the county of Vashington and State ofv Maryland,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Forks, Rakes, die.;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in forks, rakes, and likeagricultural implements; and it consists of the peculiar combination ofdevices and novel construction and arrangement of parts, as will behereinafter fully set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

The primary object of my invention is to provide improved means forrigidly securing a fork to its handle in such a manner as to et'-fectively brace the parts at the points of greatest strain.

By my improvements I am enabled to produce a fork possessing greatstrength and durability, and it is also very light, simple, and cheap inconstruction.

I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 isa top orplan view of a fork constructedin accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional viewthereof on the line x .e of Fig. l.' Fig. 3 is a plan view of the forkdetached from the handle and fastening device to show the peculiarconstruction thereof. Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views illustratingmodifications of my improvements.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference denotecorresponding parts in all the figures, A designates the handle of afork, B, embodying my invention, the peculiar construction of which Iwill now proceed to describe in detail. The extreme lower end of thehandle A is formed with a transverse central recess, a, which providestwo flanges or ears, a', on opposite sides of the recess, and betweenthese flanges or ears is fitted the head b of the fork B. The fork is ofthe ordinary steel, so that the head b and the tines b are p integral.

A strap, O, is secured to the handle A and passed between the twocentral tines of the fork over the head thereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and2. The inner edge of the head b of the fork, at the point where thestrap fits over the same, is formed with a recess, c, in which the strapis fitted, the outer edge or side of the strap lying flush with theinner edge of the head of the fork. rlhe fork is further provided with atang or shank, c2,whieh is driven securely into the end of the handle inthe ordinary manner.

The strap C is formed of a single piece of metal, and is doubled orfolded upon itself to provide the two arms d, which lie on oppositesides of t-he handle, and are secured thereto by rivets rlor otherequivalent devices.

To more securely connect the strap to the handle, I place a ring orband, E, over the 'strap and secure the two parts together by driventhrough the aligned openings in the collar and strap, as in Fig. 2, orthey may be formed integral with the collar, as in Fig. 5. The head ofthe fork is furthermore provided with a central opening or socket, f,which is formed in the middle of the recess therein, and in this socketis fitted a stud, f', which is formed on the inner side of thetransverse portion of the strap-z'. c., that portion of the strap whichconnects the two arms and fits in the recess of the fork-head.

The collar or band E is arranged on the strap and handle close up to thehead ofthe fork to afford additional strength to the parts at the pointswhere the greatest strain comes in using the fork, and the strap, bybeing passed over the fork-head and connected therewith inthe peculiarmanner set forth, affords additional strength and security to the parts.

In forks having an even number of tines, I form the recess at a point inthe head between the two central tines, as seen in Fig. 3; but in forkshaving an uneven number of tines it is impractical to form this recessin the head,and

I therefore form a transverse aperture, g, in the strap, through whichthe central tine of the fork is passed, as in Fig. 5, thereby securingadditional strength tothe fork having an uneven number of tines as wellas in a fork having an even number. Y

In applying my invention to rakes, the strap is passed around and overthe rakefhead in the same manner as in thefork shown herein; but inadapting my improvements to hoesand other like agricultural implementsthe perforated strap is used, the tang or shank of the blade beingpassed through the aperture in the strap, as is obvious.

In lieu of the studs or rivets to secure the collar to the strap, I mayform the latter with an annular iiange or ridge, h, at 'a point in rearof the collar to prevent it from vertical dislplacement on the handle,as seen in Fig. 4.

Modifications in the form and proportion of parts can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-` 1. The combination of a handle,a fork having an angular recess formed on the inner side of the head andbetween the two central prongs thereof, and a strap secured to thehandle and fitted snugly in the angular recess of the head, said straplying flush with the inner side or edge of the fork-head and serving tohold the fork in iixed position with relation to the handle,substantially as described.

2. The combination of a handle, afork having a central socket, and astrap secured to the handle and tted over the fork-head, said straphaving lug which fits in the socket of the head, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination of a handle, a fork having a recess formed in thehead between the central tines and a socket formed in the middle of therecess, and a strap fitting flush in the recess and having a stud whichenters the central socket, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of a handle having a central recess formed in one endthereof, a fork having its head fitted in the recess, a strap secured tothe handle and passed around the fork-head, and a band or collar fittedover the y handle and strap in close proximity to the fork,substantially as described.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a fork having a handle provided witha central recess inone end, a fork having the head thereoflitted in therecess, a U-shaped strap secured to the handle and fitted around thefork-head, and a band or collar fitted over the strap in close proximityto the fork-head and having means for securing the same to the strap,substantially as described.

Intestimony whereof I affix my signature iny Witnesses: Jos. FoRREsT,

JAs. R. EDsEN.

